NASCAR Sued for Antitrust Over Charter System

Two NASCAR teams, 23XI Racing owned by Michael Jordan and Front Row Motorsports, have filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and its chairman Jim France. The lawsuit accuses NASCAR of monopolistic practices that restrict competition, specifically criticizing the revenue-sharing model and the charter system introduced in 2016, which teams allege unfairly benefits NASCAR's founding France family. This legal action follows the refusal of these teams to sign the latest charter agreement, which they argue provides insufficient revenue compared to NASCAR's significant earnings from TV deals. The lawsuit is being handled by Jeffrey Kessler, a prominent antitrust lawyer, and seeks treble damages for what the teams claim are anti-competitive practices. Reactions from other teams are mixed, with some expressing concern over potential repercussions on their charters. NASCAR has yet to comment on the lawsuit, which could significantly impact the future structure and operations of the sport.